This is a circular route, which takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery off the main tourist routes. 

Route Factfile

Distance:	25 miles
Advice:	A long cycle with steep sections
Start and Finish:	Newcastle
Refreshments:	Available in Castlewellan, Leitrim, Maghera and Newcastle

Route Finder
Starting in Newcastle, follow the A50 towards Castlewellan from the northern part of the town centre.  After 1.2 miles turn left onto Tollymore Road and right onto the Middle Tollymore Road.  Exiting at the entrance to Tollymore Forest Park, turn right onto the Bryansford Road.  At the next T-junction, turn left onto the Hilltown Road.  Passing through the village of Bryansford, the route leads you along the edge of Tollymore Forest Park and past the Tollymore Mountain Centre on your left.  After 2.3 miles turn left onto Trassey Road, where you pass the start of the Trassey Track, one of the main routes through the high Mourne Mountains.  Continue along this road until you reach the crossroads. Go straight through the crossroads onto the Moyad Road.  Here views of Slieve Croob open out immediately in front of you.  At the end of this road turn right and after 300 yards take the first left onto Bog Road.  Lough Island Reavy Reservoir will now be visible on your left. At the crossroads turn left onto the Tullyree Road towards the village of Kilcoo.  At the village turn right onto the main Dublin Road and take an immediate left onto the Ballymoney Road, past Kilkoo Graveyard.  At the next T-junction turn right onto Letalion Road and then next right onto the Lackan Road.  After ½ mile the route takes you along the edge of Lough Island Reavy Reservoir on your right.  At the end of the reservoir turn left onto Largy Road, continue to the end of this road and turn left onto Altnadue Road.  Continue along this road for approximately 1 mile and go straight ahead at the crossroads onto the Ballymagreehan Road.  Turn right at the next T-junction – this is a steep part of the road for several hundred yards and you may wish to consider dismounting.  At the top of the hill turn left onto the Leitrim Road, ahead are views of Slieve Croob and the village of Leitrim in the valley.  Follow the roads downhill towards the village of Leitrim.  The route turns right onto Ballymaginty Road.  However, for refreshments and tourist information, you may wish to continue for a few hundred yards into the village of Leitrim. On joining the Ballymaginty Road, Castlewellan Forest Park is visible directly ahead of you to the right.  At the next T-junction turn right onto the Clarkhill Road and after several hundred yards, turn right again onto the Old Road – this again is a steep upward section of the route for several hundred yards and you may wish to consider dismounting.  At the top of the hill you are afforded spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains and Dundrum Bay, with the town of Newcastle in the distance.  At the end of this road left and after 100 yards turn right onto the Drumbuck Road.  The route now runs along the edge of Castlewellan Forest Park to your right onto the main Dublin Road.  Caution is advised here. The route now turns left onto Station Road, however you may wish to continue for several hundred yards into Castlewellan, where shops and refreshments are available.  On joining Station Road, turn right after 100 yards onto Dundrinne Road and follow this downhill towards Newcastle – this is a steep downhill section so please check your brakes.  At the next crossroads follow this road across into Corrigs Road.  After 200 yards, you pass the entrance to Maghera Church and Round Tower, an ancient monument, on your left.  Continue to the end of Corrigs Road where it joins the main A50 Newcastle to Castlewellan road adjacent to the Burrendale Hotel and Country Club.  Turn left here and follow the road back to your starting point in Newcastle.

Points of Interest

Newcastle	Newcastle first developed into a seaside resort with the coming of the railway during the late 19th century.  Situated within the Mourne & Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the town is set within a stunning natural environment with the Irish Sea on one side and the Mountains on the other.  Attractions within the town include the Tropicana Fun Pool – an outdoor heated swimming pool, boating lake and the famous Royal County Down golf course.
Tollymore Forest Park	This Park was previously owned by Robert Jocelyn, 8th Earl of Roden and was the first State forest in Northern Ireland to be designated as a forest park.  Covering an area of almost 500 hectares at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, the park offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at Newcastle.
Kilcoo Graveyard	Historic graveyard 2 miles out of the village of Kilcoo on your left. Local legend has it that when St Patrick died, he was brought from his seat in Armagh for burial in Downpatrick.  As the journey took more than 2 days the cortege had to stop overnight at Kilcoo Old Church, as the Church was immediately adjacent to the old coach road that ran from Newry to Downpatrick.  It is now believed locally that St Patrick was ‘waked’ here in the tradition of great Irish wakes.
Castlewellan Forest Park	Castlewellan Forest Park covers an area of 460 hectares, including a mile long lake, fishing, an Arboretum, Castle, camping and caravan park and way-marked trails, including a sculpture trail.
Castlewellan	Castlewellan is a market town on the main Downpatrick to Dublin road.  It is uniquely laid out, with 2 main squares and a broad main street designed by a French architect in the style of a French market town.
Maghera Village, Old Church and Round Tower	Maghera is a site of great antiquity. The earliest remains are those of a rath, standing on the banks of the Carrigs River.  St Donard is said to have spent each winter in Maghera.  Burial slabs from the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods are to be found in the ancient church graveyard.  The old church and round tower are a surviving example of how early religious centres evolved. The site consists of a modern church c.1825, a ruined 13th century church and the stump of a 10th century round tower.

Accommodation

Dornan's Clachan - 3* Self-Catering

Henry John's Clachan - 3* Self-Catering

Slieve Croob Inn - 3* Guesthouse

Cycle Hire

The Cycle Centre 31a Church Square Banbridge Co. Down T: 028 4066 2863

Ross Cycles 9 Railway Street Newcastle Co. Down T: 028 4372 5525

Wiki Wiki Wheels 10b Donard Street Newcastle Co. Down T: 028 4372 3973